Carriage shift for typewriters



Dec."16,'194l'. F "c, E, NORTON 2,266,066- CARRIAGE SHIF T FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed May 22, 1939 Co/umbus'E Norfon INVEN'IITOR' Y GMKM ATTORNEY me of any royalty thereon.

Patented Dec.16, 1941 CARRIAGE SHIFT FOB Columbus E. Norton, Knoxville, Tenn.

' Application May 22, 1939, Serial No. 275,086

6 Claims. (CL 197-65) (Granted under the act of March amended April 39, 1928: 370 0.

The invention herein described may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to This invention relates to an improvement in carriage shifting mechanism for typewriters and the like.

' One of the objects of this invention is to pro- 3, 1883, as G. 757) In Fig. i, Fig. 2 and a a desk I supports a standard typewriter 3. Afllxed to a side panel of the desk I is a treadle support 5 to which a treadle I is hingedly connected; The treadle I vide a mechanism for shiiting typewriter carriages by pedomotive operation whereby the operator can readily shift such carriage without moving fingers from the keyboard, thereby reducing the errors incident thereto. Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanism for spacing the platen and shifting the carriage of a typewriter which not only effects saving intime but reduces operator fatigue. A further obiect of this invention is to ide a carriage shifting mechanism which can be easily attached to a standard typew'riting support and which still has no integral connection with the typewriter. Other objects of this invention include the provision of a carriage shifting mechanism for a machine which automatically disengages the carriage shifting lever and accordingly provides ample clearance for utilizing the machine in the conventional manner.

I have discovered a mechanism for effecting the above objects which includes in the combination for a typewriter having amovable carriage and a support for said typewriter a platen spacing and carriage return member on said carriage, an arm having a defined path of travel adapted to engage said spacing and return member which is normally manually operated, a treadle associated with said arm through articulated members for engaging said arm. with said spacing and return member and advancing the same, and-at least one of said articulated members adapted to automatically disengage said arm from said spacing and return member when said treadle is not operated.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part or the specification, and wherein reference symbols refer to like partswherever they occur,

- vertical Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of my invention wherein the mem- 1 bers directly pertaining to the invention are shown in function and those members appurtenant thereto are shown out of function,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view of the immediate carriage shifting mechanism shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, sectional view taken on line H of Fig. 2.

machine.

is connected to one end of a lever arm a which has a bifurcated fulcrum il integral with the treadle support 6. The other end of the lever arm I is connected to a member is connected to an elbow member I! pivotedto a-bracket II which is securely fastened to the desk top by a screw it. The bracket II also supports a pair of channels, represented by channel 2|, which serve as a guide for a wheel 28'connected to one end of an arm 25, which is normally in a substantially not operated by treadle I. The arm 25 is connected .at an intermediate'point to the elbow member I 5 and has its free end provided with a replaceable cushioned striking member 21, which strikes the platen spacing and carriage return member 28 of the typewriter 3, thereby rotating the platen thereof and returning the carriage thereof, in a manner similar to manual operation of said member.

arm 25 to return to its normal substantially position when pressure isremoved from the treadle I. Referring specifically to Fig. 2,

the normal position of arm 2! is insubstantiatv alignment with the pair of channels, represented by channel 2|, thereby giving ample clearance close the desk i or perform necessary. functions' on the machine. It is essential, in connecting the elbow member I! to the arm 25, that the distance from A to B, B to C and from B to D be equal in order that the path of travel of striking member 21 is defined in a true, horizon- V tal plane, as represented by the arrows II.

One example of the operation and use of my apparatus is given for use in combination with a conventional typewriter wherein upon completion of a line oi typing the treadle is pressed and the elements coacting therewith cause the striking member to engage the spacingand 'return member on the carriage of the typewriter and to return said carriage to its initial margin position in a manner identical to that used in the manual operation thereof. upon release of pressure upon the treadle, the striking member is immediately disengaged, making itunnecessary to afllx any of the members oi the mechanism to a It which in tumvertical position when 'The member I: is so-positimed and adjusted in weight as to cause the Furthermore,

standard typing.

Another object of the operation of apparatus resides in tabulating and the like travel.

wherein a certain amount of spacing is paramount. In this type of work a staccato manipulation of the treadle will merely produce spacing on the platen while a gentle but firm pressure on the treadle will return the carriage to the desired tabulating zone; These and other uses will be apparent to the'skilled operator.

It is evident that there are numerous factors which influence conditions for the most satisfactory operation of the present invention, the actual limits of which, including the specific placement of the coacting members, can only be established by a consideration of each typewriting machine and the like with which it may be suitably combined.

The actuating member susceptible to pedomotive operation may be a treadle or knee piece This actuating member is connected by: "articu lated elements to an elbow member whichis in turn connected to an arm which has one eitremity associated with a suitable guide arrangement and the other extremity provided with a replaceable, and if so desired, adjustable cushioned striking member which'engages the platen spacing and carriage return member on the typewriter. A plurality of holes or other suitable adjusting arrangement is provided in the zone 01' the connection of the'elbow to the arm. when the mechanism is equipped to accommodate various typewriters and the like which may have various elevations for the spacing arm and there- .by necessitate a considerable adjustment of the adjustable striking member.

In order that the path of travel of the striking member be defined in a true horizontal plane the following distances must be equal at all riage return member on said carriage, an advancing member having an engaging portion movable in a horizontal path of travel and adapted to engage said spacing and return member, pedomotive means for operating said advancing member, and means adapted to maintain said advancing member out of engagement with said spacing and return member when said advancing member is not operated by said-pedomotive means.

2. In combination with a typewriter having a movable carriage and a platen spacing and carriage returnmembe'r on said carriage, an advancing member having an. engaging portion movable in a horizontal path of travel and adapted to engage said spacing and return member, pedomotive means for advancing said advancing member, and means adapted to return said advancing'member so advanced to its original position.

3. In combination with a typewriter having a movable carriage, an advancing member having an engagingportion movable in ahorizontal path of travel and adapted to engage said movable carriage, a member operatable to engage and to advance said advancing member with said carriage, and means associated with said advancing member to automatically return said member to times: the distance from one extremity of the;

arm to the elbow connection, the distance from the other extremity of the arm, including the adjustable striking member, to the elbow connection, and the distance from the elbow connection at the arm to the pivotalconnecti on of the elbow to the bracket. Slight deviation from the above distanceprovisions is permissible only to the extent whereby the striking arm shall remain in contact with the platen spacing and carriage return lever at alltimes during its path of Furthermore, in order t insure immediate return of the elbow member and the associated striking arm to its normal position, it is essential that a member or members of the articulated system be so weighted or that resilient means be so employed to insure said immediate return when the platen spacing and/or carriage shifting operation has been completed.

It will be seen, therefore, that this invention actually may be carried out by the use of viirious modifications and changes without departing from its spirit and scope, with only such changes therein as are-imposed by the prior art.

I claim: I 1. In combination with a typewriter having a movable carriage and a platen spacing and carits normal disengaged position after said carriage ber to automatically return said member to its normal disengaged position after said carriage has been fully advanced.

5. In combination with a typewriter having a movable'carriage and a platen spacing'and carriage return member on said carriage, an- 'arm having an engaging portion movable in a horizontal path of travel and adapted to engage said spacing and return member which is normally manually operated, and a treadle associated with said arm for engaging said arm with said spacing and return member and advancing the same.

6. In combination .With a typewriter having, a movable carriage and a platen'spacing and carriagereturn member on said carriage, an arm having an engaging portion movable in a hori zontal path of travel and adapted to engage said spacing and return member which is normally manually operated, a treadle associated with said v arm through articulated members for engaging COLUMBUS E. NORTON. 

